A nonthreatening gas vented as designed from a train tanker was mistaken Thursday morning for a toxic chemical leak, resulting in the evacuation of about 40 residents for about an hour.
At 5:32 a.m., the State Park Fire Department was called by CSX Railroad about a tanker sitting on the railroad tracks behind Penn Street possibly leaking hazardous materials.
CSX spokesman David Hagerman said the company was notified by the worker of another railroad who mistakenly gave the wrong rail car number. That rail car, which was not leaking, was carrying toxic sulphur dioxide. Sulphur dioxide is a colorless, poisonous gas with a sharp odor, similar to burning sulfur and is commonly used to create sulfurous acid.
The worker actually had spotted one of two cars filled with harmless argon gas. Argon, a nonthreatening, odorless gas commonly used in light bulbs.
"The car was actually venting argon gas, as it was designed," Hagerman said.
Within minutes of arriving at the scene, the fire department was met by members of the St. Clair County Hazardous Materials unit.
Initially, firefighters went door to door on Penn Street, asking residents to evacuate to the State Park Community House on Harvard Street. At one point, firefighters thought they were going to have to evacuate a mile radius, Fire Chief Terry Guffey said.
Ann Casillas of 8938 Penn St. was awakened by a neighbor about 5:45 a.m. after she had heard over a police scanner that the fire department was evacuating the area.
"We've lived here for 11 years and this is the first time it's ever happened," Casillas said.
Arter the mistake was discovered, residents were allowed to return home. The train continued to Indianapolis, Ind., Hagerman said.
Distributed by the Associated Press
